Determining Intrafamilial Epstein-Barr Virus Transmission through LMP-1 Strain Variation Sequence Genotyping

Abstract

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects about 90% of the global population1. EBV can cause infectious mononucleosis (mono) which is known as the “kissing disease” because exchange of oral fluids during kissing is the most common mode of transmission among teenagers and young adults. However, the method of transmission of the EBV is unknown in preadolescent children due to the lack of testing and awareness of the disease3. It is likely that caretakers, while contagious with the virus, pass it down to their children, who can then spread it to other children. Comparing the parent’s strain of the EBV LMP-1 gene against that of their children could provide insights into how the highly contagious infection spreads to eventually infect a large population. A nested PCR was used to identify the EBV gene strains amongst children and their parents. The assay produced no bands.